Fingers crossed that your cycle 2 goes ahead without any issues. So many curveballs in this journey!
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Iāve wondered the same thing. I start my treatment next week (4 x EC 4 x doclitaxol) and would like to retain some sort of normality if possible? I permanently WFH so the office issue is not one I have to face, but am I being naive or unrealistic hoping Iāll be able to dip in to wok on the days I feel well?
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Iāve spoken to my BCN this morning and she has strongly advised against me working in-person from the office for my particular work situation and chemo regime (3 x EC, 12 x paclitaxel) so just need to have the conversation with work to see what we can arrange as I would also like to WFH at least a little if possible.
From what Iāve seen on here, I think a lot of women manage working from home during chemo to some degree, some with adjustments like a flexible schedule, reduced hours, extra breaks etc. I think it depends on your role really and how demanding it is. The nature of chemo definitely makes it quite difficult to plan around!
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Hey @kawan Iāve just popped over from the March thread, Iāve just completed my 3rd and final EC on Tuesday this week, I work for myself and had a party igloo booked in at a local stay and play for the Thursday 2 days post 3rd EC, I managed to go and do it (itās a lot of lifting/building the igloo/pulling the cover over etc) but I kind of know my pattern with it, the Friday is when I try and not plan much at all although today Iām not feeling too bad. Itās been very manageable so far, mentally I do get abit of brain fog so this could possibly effect you depending on your job role and physically you wonāt know until you start but there are lots of people that do manage to carry on working, Iāve just had to slow down abit as itās very physically demanding (heavy bouncy castles and teepees 
) . Itās helped me keep some normality, I have 2 young children too and have carried on going to quieter playgroups and fun days out.
Sending love xxxx
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@laineyb73 have you been warned about the impact of a taxel drug plus Phesgo plus carboplatin on your hair? I would make sure you have some sleep caps and maybe alternatives to the NHS wig to hand before round 2 just so you have a back up plan. without hair your head feels very cold.
kept mine for the first round, ( now on nab pacitaxel due to adverse reactions with ducotaxel ) It has all gone today on the second round some nine days in. I gave in a borrowed DHs beard razor to trim the last remaining tufty bits to 3mm as they have been driving me nuts.
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As someone who started EC-P in January, some quick thoughts 
@mssteel @kawan
I WFH as a software developer, and I was really unsure what my plan would be when I started. I also have good sick pay, so I didnāt feel the need to work for money reasons - but like some people have mentioned having a routine would be nice. I also didnāt want to just ādisappearā from a fast moving role.
I did dose-dense EC too, so every 2 weeks. I ended up taking the first full cycle off, then the first week of cycle 2 - so 3 weeks. I had a sick note to cover me for all of it but I decided to go back on for week 2. I ended up managing this for the 3 remaining EC cycles - one week on, one off. It was weird at first, and I also had to not pick up anything āimportantā but I was getting into a decent routine with it. The key was it being my choice and having that flexibility, and I was lucky my side effects mostly wore off by the end of week 1.
When I started weekly Paclitaxel I signed off work properly, Iām actually better with the side effects but I have to go in for bloods on Mondays then chemo on Tuesdays, which leaves me with 3 days in which Iād struggle to really accomplish anything at work. Honestly it has also been very nice being able to just let work go and give myself time to relax a bit.
I did spend some time trying to understand if there was any legal issue with having a āsick noteā but then working, I think as long as your workplace are OK with it thereās no problem - they may have their own policies around reducing any liability.
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Thank you thatās so helpful. Like you Iām keen to retain some normality (if anything can be normal currently) and to still feel involved and useful. Work have been great so far and shared my workload and line management duties with other colleagues so I can just dip in and out. As you say outside of that itās really difficult to plan (which is half the battle for me!) x
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@puglover56 i like the babies with hair too. Was
Thinking of buying a āhaloā wig/ hair extension /hairpiece so that I can change it up with different hats . Have you looked at them?
First cycle of chemo today. Iāve been reading posts from people who continued working during treatment, and Iām genuinely curiousāhow do you manage?
Was it something you chose to do, or was it financially necessary?
I feel okay after my first cycle so far, but thereās already so much emotional tension that comes with this process.
Then there are practical concerns too, like being told chemo can remain in your body fluids for 48 hours after treatment. I keep thinkingāwhat if you sneeze, or forget to flush properly? Isnāt that a concern in some work environments? And what about having a weakened immune system?
Sometimes I wonder if Iām being dramatic, but honestly, Iām so grateful to be home during this journey. It already feels overwhelming. I can understand working from home, but in person? Wow. Maybe it also depends on the type of workāmy field is childcare, so it feels very different than an office setting.
To everyone doing part-time or full-time work while going through chemo: you are incredibly strong. 
I truly hope youāre able to care for your mental health, physical health, and workload as best as possible. Sending you all so much love and strength. 
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Hey!
Iām happy to chat! Hereās my email: camila.bruneli.vinco@gmail.com.
I received my Lupron injection two weeks before starting chemo. Itās supposed to help protect my ovaries, so you may have had the same one. I didnāt freeze my eggs. It was too costly for me. I am hoping to try to get pregnant 2 years after I start my hormone teraphy. This is when my oncologist said it would be safe for me. Did you get a double mastectomy?
Hopping over from February thread, Iāve been continuing to work throughout with days off on treatment days and as needed post chemo which have been few. I am a remote worker anyway, so that has been an advantage to start with and adjustments have been made so that Iām focussing on internal projects for now.
Are you able to work from home whilst going through chemo? The main concern is that your immune system will be suppressed so you will be susceptible to picking up infections/bugs, which can be serious when going through chemo. Iāve avoided going into the office as I also need to get public transport for part of the journey.
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My preference is to continue to work , I work from home anyway but itās so much better for my mental health to keep busy and have that interaction with my colleagues. Work have made adjustments for me so itās more than manageable.
It all depends on what job you have and how you respond to chemo, weāre all so different in how the side affects impact us.
I do get tired by the evenings but I am able to get out daily with my dogs on walks, work and rest up in the evenings.
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Hi @trixie17, thanks for your reply.
Yes, the compromised immune system is definitely the main concern here. I was actually advised against going into the office from the start by my BCN, but having read posts from women who have continued to work, even some working in schools, I started to wonder if I was just being overly cautious so touched base with her yesterday to double check.
I let my manager know from diagnosis I wouldnāt be working from the office during chemo, but have now confirmed this with her so we can use it as the basis for figuring out what we can do. I would rather work from home if possible, however most of my duties do involve being there physically so I think it will be a case of seeing if we can move things around.
I have an income protection benefit with work which is active from day one of employment, but I was unfortunately diagnosed five days before I started the job so weāre not sure whether it will actually pay out and it would hit me financially if I canāt work at all.
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I hope your employer can support you with working from home @mssteel It at least alleviates the concerns regarding being immuno suppressed
Fingers crossed ref the income protection as well. The financial worry is another reason why some people have no choice but to continue to work. Especially in the private sector where sick pay may not be as good as the public sector. Mine is basic sick pay which I exhausted after having 2 weeks off post 2 X surgeries. Thankfully, at their discretion they are continuing to pay sick pay whilst I go through active treatment. I had a critical illness plan which paid out as well, so glad I had that in place.
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Hi there, yep I WFH and have an 18 week treatment plan of Docetaxel and I have taken 8 weeks sick leave but then hoping to return to work with one week off and then two weeks on. Other colleagues seem to have managed on this when they went through treatment 
Hi 
, yes I really like those as well. I would really like a blonde/honey bob shape to my shoulder. I think they are brilliant idea 
xā
Great to hear your employer is being so supportive. Thereās definitely enough to worry about when dealing with cancer without having to throw money on the pile too!
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Morning all 
hope itās sunny wherever you are waking up .
So I completed my first Docetaxel & Phesgo on Thursday.. Went pretty smoothly, got pretty hot and bothered during the steroids but soon calmed down. It was such a bother putting on compression socks, surgical gloves then ice mitts and booties - is it really worth it? Anybody else doing this on Docetaxel to avoid neuropathy?
Day 1 post chemo has been fairly uneventful apart from developing a very red face. Today is day 2 and really expecting day 3 -5 to be harsher.
Enjoy the weekend as much as you can xx
Hi @tesso i am currently on the same plan as you i am 3rd cycle in. I have a teenager too and its been ok so far as i havent felt too bad but once i start to feel unwell he may start to get a bit more unsettled Hopefully it wont affect him too much as he is in his room a lot of the time . Its so tough though as he is still my baby no matter how grown up they are becoming .
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